"Ayo, Lucina!" said a familiar voice.

Lucina was sharpening her sword. She ignored him.

"Ayo Lucina!" repeated the voice.

Lucina didn't listen.

"What?" she said?

"I need you to drive me bruh," said the voice.

Lucina turned around. It was Roy, wearing a... was that a Minecraft hoodie?

"First - I'm not a "bruh", I have a name. Second, why? Why would I drive you?" she asked him, hand on her hip.

"'Cause I wanna see the Minecraft Movie."

Lucina raised her eye again. "Minecraft... what now?"

"Minecraft movie," said Roy. "Y'ain't heard of Minecraft?"

"I-No what the, of course I know Minecraft I-Everyone does. But... movie? They're making... a movie?"

Roy gave her a scandalized look. "Bruh. Everyone online's talkin' about it."

Lucina shrugged. "Ah that explains. I don't use social media."

"Bruh, do you touch grass or something?" said Roy, eyebrow raised.

"...Pfft-Yes," said Lucina, covering her mouth to suppress the coming laugh.

"Jack Black is in it dude," said Sonic, squirming as his bookbag lurched.

"Yeah bruh. He even says 'I am Steve!' Shit was funny," chuckled Roy.

"...Oh the Kung Fu Panda guy?" said Lucina, scratching her head.

"...He's in Kung Fu Panda?" said Roy.

"Yeah he's Po," said Lucina.

"Damn bruh, how did I not notice that?"

Lucina glanced at the duffel bag. It jerked again. "What's in there?"

Sonic stiffened. "Uh. Snacks. Super illegal ones."

Lucina narrowed her eyes. "Illegal how?"

"Uh... customs," Sonic said. "Black market Takis. From, like, Argentina."

"Oh," shrugged Lucina. "Anyways," she turned back to Roy. "Drive yourself."

"I can't, illegal," said Roy.

"Why?" asked Lucina.

"I'm 15. Can't drive til like, June, that's my birthday," said Roy.

"...Okay, how far is it?"

"Like five minutes," said Sonic. Suddenly the bag jerked and began CAWWING louder.

Lucina said nothing for ten seconds. She looked at the bag, sucked air into her mouth. Then she sighed and pulled her car keys outside.

"I'm not going inside," she said.

Roy's face lit up. "Yooo! Let's go, Lucina!" he said, extended. "Yous a real gangsta when ya want to be one."

"Hold on there, boy. This is ONLY 'cause it's so short," she said, dangling the keys. "If I drive you, will you both shut up until we get there?"

Roy and Sonic snickered.

Lucina's eyes flattened and she released the sigh that was building. grabbed her keys anyway.

"Follow me."

Five minutes later, the car pulled up, next to a patchwork fence of scrap metal and half-melted rebar. Behind that scrap metal was a dusty group of stone blocks vaguely resembling a mall; a faded logo, half-unbuttoned, hung limply from the top of the building, right side down.

The car jolted. "Sorry, I just hit a weed," said Lucina.

The thing in Sonic's duffel bag CAWWED again. Lucina stank eyed behind her. "What-What the hell is in that damn bag?"

Sonic tried to open his mouth, but Lucina shook her head and shoo'd him out.

"I-I don't even wanna think about it. Just go before I get in trouble."

So leave they did. Lucina backed out and drove back to the Smash Castle.

"Duude," groaned Sonic. "This Cucco is tryna kick my ass.

"Bruh, hang in there," said Roy. He turned towards the decrepit building; which room was the Minecraft Movie gonna be in?

"Yo bruh, which room's gonna show the Minecraft movie?"

"I, um, I thought you knew."

"Naw bruh," said Roy. He turned around and this time, saw a bingo. Kids. Little bundles of TikTok-rotted not joy. More specifically, Pichu (Also wearing his Minecraft hoodie!), Young Link, Squirtle, Yoshi and Pit, all being chaperoned by the likes of Luigi, Palutena, Terry Bogard, and a few other people I can't think of rn.

"ARE YOU READY..." said Terry, pausing to get on his knee and put his hand on Squirtle's arm. "...for Minecraft?"

Squirtle laughed. "Yeah totally. I hope Jack Black gives me gifts since Santa couldn't last year."

Terry arched his eye. "Ok... wish you luck buddy," he chuckled.

Luigi chuckled himself. "You, you sure are excited huh. Man I wish I could relate... Ok, Yoshi, you promise not to eat everything?"

"Yoshi Yoshi... (I'll try...)"

Luigi sighed. "I suppose that's a honest answer." He looked at the prices on his phone again and winced. "Holy-" He shook his head. "No wonder this place is so empty."

"Bingo," grinned Roy. He turned to Sonic and put his hand on his shoulder. "Yo bruh - problem's solved. Look over there - what you see?"

Sonic narrowed his eyes. "Kids."

"Exactly bruh, and you know what kids love?"

"...Minecraft?"

"Hell yeah bruh. Follow the kids and we're gon be in the Jack Black movie."

"...Pause."

"Yeah, no Diddy shit."

TO BE CONTINUED...